Chronicles of Long Kesh – Everyman Theatre, Liverpool

Writer: Martin Lynch

Director: Lisa May & Martin Lynch

Reviewer: Tim Stone

The Public Reviews Rating:

A lot of my formative years in England were during the Northern Ireland troubles and whether I like it or not, I have a lot of strong opinions about what I consider right and wrong. Therefore, when I knew I was attending a play about one of the most politically dividing subjects; The Maze Prison (1971-2000) and Internment, I expected to leave the theatre ‘hot under the collar’ and fired up. Instead I left, inspired.

It is important to remember that this is a play and it has license to twist and manipulate the truth (but not as Hollywood’s version of Titanic does with history), and it is easy to forget during the swift couple of hours of jokes and songs, that many of those locked up in Long Kesh were violent and dangerous criminals. We do see brief appearances of this through intimated violence, for instance the threats against Freddie, prison guard and narrator (the excellent Billy Clarke); when it is made clear they know where his wife and children live. However, we also see the thuggery of the other side from those in charge. Saying that, each threat and act of violence won the audience over with a smile, a song and the prisoners’ friendships towards each other, which balanced the play effectively.

The action is swift and fast moving, and a special award must go to the choreographed movement throughout the play. The story of Long Kesh is told by Freddie and performed by the inmates. It seems churlish to single out any of the superb five other actors, but Marty Maguire, as Oscar was bouncy, loud and funny and importantly kept the action ticking over; while Chris Corrigan’s Eamonn was emotional and deep. All five played different parts and all five linked so effectively it was like a well oiled machine. How they can expand so much energy and come out to do another performance the following evening is beyond me!

What Martin Lynch (writer and director) has achieved is a part of history that has been neglected; we all saw the news and heard the facts, but this play shows history from a different angle; that the prisoners have feelings, the terrible toll it had on the families and relationships and how a complete community was consumed by hatred. This play gives the troubles humanity.

It appeared to me that the play was made for the Everyman. The audience was so close to the action it felt as if it was part of it. The set; (David Craig) so simple, yet so effective: large black boxes were cells, beds, musical instruments and everything, while invisible bags and the like, became visible. Powerfully placed lighting (Conleth White) added to the action and scare factor, while directors Martin Lynch and Lisa May have crafted a piece of pure art. If there was a slight problem, it was the strong Northern Irish accent; and that words were not always easy to pick out in the fast moving scenes. For me though it added to the play. You didn’t necessarily have to know what was accurately being said; it was in the acting.

Having now seen the Chronicles of Long Kesh and with my pre-evening reservations, I want to rush out into the street and tell people not to miss it. There is one word for it (and please excuse the pun). A-MAZE-ING